Tape serving machine



Nov. 19, 1935. 1'. H. KRUEGER 2,021,314

TAPE SERVING MACHINE Filed Sept. 10, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 F 1 F m INVENTOR Thea JOPEflZTZ/Cfjfi" BY ATTORNEYS 3 Sheeis-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 72600 07? fiffizzeyefi ATTORNEYS Nov. 19, 1935. KRUEGER 2,021,314

TAPE SERVING MACHINE Filed Sept. 10, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 19 '1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE sperm were snavme mcmnn Theodore a. mom, Stratfufll. (Jenn. Application September 10, 10:2, Serial No. seam 14 Claims. 104-41) This invention relates to tape serving machines and has for an object to provide an improved mechanism for automatically controlling the amount of tape fed and especially when certain different lengths are repeatedly required.

In the wrapping of packages as commonly practised to meet usual packing requirements, strips of gummed paper tape are applied over the edges of the package and along a central longitudinal joint. This normally requires the use of strips of two difierent lengths, one longer strip for the longitudinal seam and the two shorter strips for the transverse end seams.

If a number of boxes of the same sizeare to be sealed a corresponding number of strips of similar length are required and a substantial economy results if a tape serving machine is provided which will automatically deliver the strips in the predetermined lengths. Tape serving machines now in extensive use, such for example, as machines generally of the type shown in Patent No. 1,742,603, granted to me January 7, 1930 are provided with means for automatically determining one length of tape to be fed, but leave it to the operator to determine the other length visually. This leaves opportunity for error and is not satisfactorily economical of time.

The present invention aims to provide means whereby a plurality of predetermined lengths may be automatically, definitely measured'and the operator may at will feed each length as selected.

Another object is to provide a convenient means for rendering one or another of the strip length determining-devices operative.

Another object is to provide a selective strip length determining device which will be economical in construction and operation.

Another object is to provide an improved cut-- 01? mechanism operable to sever each length oi tape as fed. I

Another object is to provide a cut-off mechanism which will be mechanically set in operation by the feed actuating means.

Another object is to provide a cut ofi actuating mechanism which will be economical in manufeature and simple and effective in use.

With these and other objects in view the invention provides an arrangement in which a plurality of stops control the tape feed whereby deflnite predetermined lengths can be fed, means being included whereby one or another length may be fed selectively at the will 01 the operator.

The arrangement of stops may be suitably adapted to the particular machine to which the invention is applied and conveniently one stop may be arranged to be rendered inoperative at will whereby the other stop becomes effective.

The nature and objects of the invention will be better understood from a description of a par- 5 ticular illustrative embodiment, for the purposes of which description reference is to be made to the drawings forming a part hereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a part 01' a tape 10 serving machine to which the invention is applied for purpose of illustration,

Figure 2 is a detail sectional view of the stop release mechanism,

Figure 3 is a side elevation similar to that-16 shown in Figure 1 with the parts in different position and one tape length determining stop moved to inoperative position,

Figure 4 is a vertical detail sectional view of the stop arm taken on the line H of Figure 3, 20

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view through the machine taken substantially on the line H of Figure 6, and

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken sub-' stantially on the line 86 of Figure 5. 25

In applying the present invention to tape serving machines, a plurality of feed limiting devices are provided, whereby as one or another of these devices is rendered operative corresponding predetermined lengths may be fed.

Ordinarily in tape feeding machines as commonly used for feeding gummed tape for the purpose of sealing packages, a tape feed actuating member, usually manually operated, is moved through a predetermined distance corresponding to the length of tape to be fed. It is possible to provide for feeding repeatedly an exact predetermined, length, if one end of the movement of this actuating member is limited by a fixed stop device and the opposite end is limited by an 40 adjustable stop device which may be set to position corresponding to the length of tape to be fed. In the embodiment of the invention to be more particularly described for the purpose of H- lustration, a plurality of such adjustable stop de- 4 vices are provided and arrangement is made for rendering one stop device inoperative at will, whereby the length fed is determined by the other device. The stop device for the shorter length of tape comprises two interengaging mem- 60 bers, one carried by the movable actuating member and one carried by a fixed part of the machine, and means is provided whereby one of these interengaging members may be moved out of interengaglng position to permit the actuating. #6

member to pass to the position determined by the stop device for the longer length.

Referring more particularly to the drawings.

there is shown the tape feeding mechanism of a tape feeding machine comprising a main frame member I l in which is rotatably moimted a principal shaftll, connected to operate the tape feeding rolls and It. The shaft ii is actuated by a hand crank ll forming an integral part of a disc l6 and when released is returned to initial position by the spring I4, (Pig. 5). The tape is fed forward between the feed rolls and beneath the cut-off knife IT. The operative connections between the principal shaft H and the driving feed roll I! is sufficiently indicated in Fig. 5, and comprises a gear I! and pinion it, the gear It being loose on the shaft II and driven by a one way clutch comprising a pawl 20 and ratchet wheel II. The lower roll it is not ordinarily positively driven. The gummed tape is supported and guided by upper and lower plate guides 23 and 24, in the plane of the point of meeting of the feed rolls l2 and I3 and forward to the cut-off knife II. V

The stop devices for determining the length of tape to be fed may conveniently be connected with the disc 16 which, with the crank arm l5, acts as an actuating member for the tape feed. As shown one stop device consists of an adjustable stop member 25 and a cooperating fixed stop 26 consisting of a fixed lug on the machine carrying a bumper 21. The adjustable stop member 25 is arranged to be locked in adjusted position in the slot 28 by a clamp nut 30 and lock washer II. The stop member 25 may conveniently be carried on an arm 32, lcosely mounted on the shaft II.

A second stop device comprises an adjustable stop member 35 and a fixed stop member 36 carrying a bumper 31. One of these interengaging stop members, is arranged to be moved out of the path of interengaging movement at the will of the operator.

This second stop device, in the machine shown, controls the cutting of the shorter length of tape and may be rendered inoperative to permit the length of tape cut to be determined by the first stop device. In the arrangement shown, this is accomplished by making one of the interengaging stop members movable out of the path of interengaging movement. The stop member 36 is pivoted at 38 and movable against the action of a spring 39, normally holding it in operative position, by means of a vertical link 40, pivoted to the stop member at 4| and terminating at its upper end in a suitable handle 42 convenlently in position to be depressed by the operator. The stop 15 is shown as comprising an arm 44 loosely mounted on the shaft ll. It is held in adjusted position by clamp screw and nut 45, 46 with the lock washer 41, as best shown in Figure 4. This clamp screw 45 extends through the arcuate slot 28 of the disc I. In operation the crank I5 is operated in the direction of the arrow to feed a length of tape and out it 01!, it is then released and flies back to the position controlled by the stop 35, it ready to feed a shorter length of tape such as has been determined by the setting of the adjustable stop 35. The machine is then ready for operation by pulling forward the crank ii to feed a shorter length. But if a longer length is desired such as determined by the setting. of the stop device 2|, the stop I. is first released by pressure of the hand on the handle 42 whereupon the crank I! fiies back to the position determined by the engagement of the stop device 25, 28 and a longer length of tape may be fed by forward operation of the crank II.

The stop member 36 is shownin detail in Fig- 5 ure 2. It will be noted that a pin 48 projects inward and engages the frame of the machine to determine the position of the stop. The link 40 is connected by means of an inwardly projecting bracket.

If the stop member I! carried by the crank and disk is to be moved out of operative engaging position, a thumb operated member on the crank may be provided for effecting the release.

In the cut-oil mechanism, as shown in Figure 15 l, the knife IIis operated by a tension link iii, having a pin and slot connection ii, 52 with a rock lever 53 pivoted at 54 and comprising an operating cam lug 55. Upon the forward feeding movement of the crank ii a pin 58 project- 20 ing inwardly from a web 51 integral with the crank it engages the cam 5 on its upper side whereupon the lever 53 by an idle movement permits the pin to pass. On return movement however, this same pin engages the opposite side 25 of the cam arm 55 and actuates the lever 53 to operate the cutter knife H.

The movement of the actuating disc and crank I5 is cushioned at the end of its operative movement by a spring 60, which engages a pin 6| 3o fixed in the frame of the machine. The opposite end of the spring is connected to an arm 62 (see Figure 6) loosely mounted on shaft ll. As the crank I5 approaches the end of its operative movement the pin 64 carried by the disc engages 35 the arm 62, see the dotted line position as indicated at 64, and the spring cushions the movement until the arm 62 engages the pin 65 fixed in the frame of the machine to limit the movement. On the return movement the energy 40 stored in the tension spring assists in the operation of the cut-off mechanism.

The foregoing detailed description is illustrative merely and is not intended as defining the limits of the invention. 45

I claim:

1. In a tape serving machine of the character described, means to feed tape in one direction only, means to return said tape feeding means to initial position, two stops in the return path 5 of the feeding means to determine the initial position of the feeding means, whereby either of two predetermined lengths may be fed as one or the other stop determines, and means to withdraw one of said stops from the path of the 55 feeding means at the will of the operator to permit determination of the tape length by the other stop.

2. In a tape serving machine of the character described, means to feed tape in one direction 60 only, two stops in the path of the tape feeding means for controlling the operation of said tape feeding means to cause selectively one or the other of two predetermined'lengths to be fed, means for selecting one or the other of said stops 65 to determine the length fed, one of said stops normally controlling the tape feeding means for the repeated feeding of one length.

i 3. In a tape serving machine comprising a tape roll support, tape feeding means, and tape severing means, a one way drive for said tape feeding means including an operating shaft, a crank, and means for limiting the movement of said crank in one direction comprising a releaseable stop. 15

4. In a tape serving machine comprising a tape roll support, tape feeding means, and tape severing means, a one way drive for said tape feeding means including an operating shaft, a crank, and means for fixing the length of tape fed, comprising two stops arranged to limit the movement of the crank in one direction alternatively in either of two limit positions, one of said stops being releasable at the will of the operator to permit the crank to pass and to then be limited by the other stop.

5. In a tape serving machine comprising a tape roll support, tape feeding means, and tape severing means, a one way drive for said tape feeding means including an operating shaft, a crank, and two length determining means comprising two adjustable stops to limit the movement of the crank, one of said stops being movable to inoperative position.

6. In a tape serving machine of the character described, a one way tape feeding means comprising an actuating member, means for selectively determining the length of movement of said actuating member to selectively feed either of two predetermined lengths comprising two stop devices adapted to limit the movement of said actuating member in one direction, one of said devices comprising fixed and movable interengaging stop members and means for moving one of said members out of the path of interengaging movement, one of said stop devices normally restraining the actuating means whereby one length of tape may be repeatedly dispensed by repeated operating of the actuating member.

7. In a tape serving machine of the character described, a tape feeding. means comprising an actuating member, means for selectively determining the length of movement of said actuating member to facilitate the feeding alternatively either of two predetermined lengths, comprising two stop devices adapted to limit the movement of said actuating member in one direction, one of said devices comprising fixed and movable interengaging stop members, means-for moving one of said members out of the path of interengaging movement, and means to adjust both stop devices to provide for feeding. varying predetermined lengths.

8. In a tape serving machine of the character described, a tape feeding means comprising an actuating member, a plurality of adjustable stop members, positioned in the path of movement of the actuating member to determine different lengths of tape to be fed, one of said stop members being movable to inoperative position to permit feeding of the length determined by the other stop member,

9. A tape serving machine for serving gummed tape of the class described comprising a tape feeding shaft, a clutch mechanism, tape engaging means operated by said shaft through said clutch in one direction only, stop members, means carried by said shaft contacting with one of said stop members in the non-tape feeding rotation thereof, means to release said stop member whereby another stop member will come into active position, a tape severing means operated during the reverse rotation of said tape feeding 5 shaft including a projection movable with said shaft, and a linkage to said severing means engaged by the reverse rotation of said shaft.

10. A tape serving machine for serving different predetermined lengths of gummed tape of the class described comprising a tape feeding shaft, a clutch mechanism, tape engaging means operated by said shaft through said clutch in one direction only, stop members, means carried by said shaft contacting with one of said stop members in the nonfeeding rotation thereof, means to select the stop member corresponding to the desired length of tape, and tape severing means to sever the tape fed.

11. In a tape serving machine of the character described comprising a tape roll support,

a tape feeding means, a one-way drive for said tape feeding means including an operating shaft, actuating means for rotating said operating shaft, means for limiting the movement of said actuating means in one direction, including a plurality of stops, and means to render one of the stops inoperative.

12. A tape serving machine for serving two or more different predetermined lengths of gummed I tape which comprises a tape feeding mechanism, including tape engagingv means, one-way drive means for said tape engaging means, operating means to operate said one-way drive means, and stop members in the path of said operating means,

said stop members being set for predetermined lengths of delivery of tape, and means to select the coacting stop member for a predetermined length of feed of tape.

13. A tape serving machine for serving gummed tape of the class described comprising tape engaging means, a feed shaft operating said tape engaging means, one-way drive means, means to rotate said feed shaft through said one-way drive means in one direction only, and a plurality of stop members in the path of movement of the feed shaft rotating means whereby separately controlled lengths of tape may be fed depending on the predetermined setting of the stop members.

14. In a tape serving machine of the character described comprising a tape roll support, a tape feeding means, said tape feeding means including a tape engaging means and a one-way dispensing means to feed tape in one direction only and means for limiting the movement of said dispensing means including a plurality of stop members set for predetermined lengths of delivery of tape, and means to select the coacting stop member whereby separately controlled lengths 9 of tape may be fed dependent on the predetermined setting of the stop member.

THEODORE H. KRUEGER. 

